Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22216, Gersham Downs, N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
SH
Downs, Gershon
S. 22216
CONTENTS

No 31.989 New Hampshire
For Report see letter to P. Agt Portsmouth, Oct 4, 1842
Gershaw Downes, dec d of Strafford in the State of N. H., who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Wentworth of the Regt commanded by Col d Poor in the N. H. line for 7 mos. 9 days, Payable to Gershaw Downes only child of Gershaw Downes deceased
Inscribed on the Roll of Portsmouth N. H. at the rate of 24 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 & termina- ting 6 April 1837 when he died
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of October 1842 and sent to Richard Russell Esq r Rochester N. H.
Arrears to the 4th of March 37 $ 145.98 Sem l allowance ending 6 April 37 2.16
148.14
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Theodore Moody Clerk, Book E, Vol. 1, Page 81

State of New Hampshire } County of Strafford ss }
On this sixth day of September 1842 personally appeared before the Court of Probate now sitting Gershorn Downs, a resident of Dover in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire aged sixty two years. Who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress March 3 d 1832 and the subsequent Acts, Opinions and constructions vesting in widows, Children and Heirs the pension of deceased Officers and Soldiers.
That his Father Gershorn Downs, late of Rochester in said County & State enlisted as a Soldier into Captain Jonathan Wentworths Company and Colonel Enoch Poor's Regiment of New Hampshire Militia in May 1775 and served eight months or more, and died in Rochester April 26 one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his Fathers name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Gershorn Downs
Sworn to and subscribed before the day and year aforesaid before me
B. M. Fennings
Judge of Probate

State of New Hampshire Strafford ss. I Winthrop A. Marston. Register of the court of Probate within and for said County, hereby certify that the within declaration was signed and sworn to by the within named Gersham Downs, in open court before the Judge of said Court; that Benning W. Kenness is Judge of said Court of Probate, and that the within signature, purporting to be his, is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court of Probate this sixth day of September Anno Domini 1842
W. A. Marston Register of said Court of Probate
State of New Hampshire Strafford ss. Office of Register of Probate within and for said county - I Winthrop A. Marston, Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Strafford, hereby certify that evidence has been adduced and is on file in this office which satisfactorily proves that the before named Gersham Downs, deceased, died at Rochester in said County on the twenty sixth day of April A. D. 1837, leaving one child only living; and that Gersham Downs of Dover in said County, the person who signed and made oath to the before prefixed declaration is that only surviving child now living -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the the seal of said Court of Probate this twelfth day of September A. D. 1842
W. A. Marston, Register of said Court of Probate

Proclamation
22216 INVALID.
File No. 22,216
Gersham Downs
Mid Reo Nat
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index — Vol. 2 , Page 115
[Arrangement of 1870.]

No 35,390 Gresham Downs die 72 H to Richard Russell Sep. 19. '42
Act 9 June 32

Sept 29. 42
W.H.
Hubbard
Department of War Pension Office
G. M. Crumpton
Washington City

Manchester N.H. Sept 24. 1842
Mr Crump.
Sir
Your note of the 19 inst. has been duly rec d . touching the claim of Mrs Anna Hubbard for a pension. Mrs Hubbard is a widowed woman and has been for the last ten years. We understand the Act of Aug 23 to remove the objection on account of a second marriage provided she be a widow when she makes application. We wish to be corrected if in error.
In relation to the claim of Gershom Downs we have to say that Gershom Downs lived in this town at the time he entered the service & afterwards to the day of his death, aged 94 years & that his son Gershom lived here in this town until recently & now lives in Dover, an adjoining town. Further evidence will be forwarded for the case is plain.
Very respectfully, I am. Your obed serv t
Richard Phelps

Oct 1. 1842.
N.H.
addl proof Genl. Downes div. Ames
11
War Department Pension Office Washington City

Manchester N.H. Sept 27 1842
Mr Crump, Sir
Herewith is enclosed the Affidavit of Lieut. Burnham to identify Gersham Downs the Soldier and Gersham Downs the son who claims the pension due his Father at the time he died. Yours of the 19 inst in relation to this case was duly rec d .
I am, Sir, Your obed servt
Richard Purdie

Payment to be made at Portsmouth by Agent for paying Pension- ers, in the Agency of
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book Vol. Page by
Clerk.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, Gersham Downs deceased of New Hampshire, who was a Private in the Revolution
was is entitled to receive twentyfour dollars and thirty three cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi- died on the 6th of April 1833 the amount annually, on the 4th of March and 4th of September, in every year. is payable to Gersham Downs only child of Gersham Downs deceased.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 11 day of OCT. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four
Secretary of War.
Examined and } Countersigned. }
Commissioner of Pensions.

I James Burnham of Somersworth in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire aged eighty eight years. do hereby say that I enlisted as a soldier in 1775 into Captain Benjamin Titcomb's Company and Col. Engeb. Poor's Regt of New Hampshire. Militia for eight Months. and that my Brother George Burnham of Somersworth and Gushen Downs of Rochester in said State enlisted into Captain Jonathan Wentworth's Compa- ny of Somersworth at the same time that I enlisted into the said Titcomb's Compa- ny for eight Months. and that the said Gushen Downs died a pauper on the poor farm of said Rochester and that being a pauper and having no assistance he never obtained any pen- sion for his services in the Revolution. The said Gushen Downs left a son named Gushen Downs who is now living in Dover in said State. I further state that in 1780 I held the Com- mission of Ensign for three months in the then Capt. L. D. Titcomb's Company and Col. Badger's Regt. James Burnham
State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss) Be it known that on this 24 th day of Sept r 1842 personally appeared the above named James Burnham a credible person to me known to be such and that the above Affi- davit by him signed is true In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand Seal of Notary Public W. C. Russell Notary Public

Newchester N.H. Sept 9. 1842
Mr Edwards
Sir
I herewith transmit the declaration of Gersham Downs son of Gersham Downs late of Newchester dec. a Soldier of the Revolution. for a pension.
For further information you are referred to an exemplification of the Roll of Captain Jonathan Wentworth recently transmitted to your Office in the claim of Polly Perkins Widow of Nathaniel Perkins for a pension.
I am, Sir, very respectfully Your Obt. Servt Richard Russell

John D. Hoyt of Rochester in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire fifty eight years old Depose and say that I was well acquainted with Graham Downes late of Rochester deceased and that he died leaving no Widows John D. Hoyt
State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss
Be it known that on this fourteenth day of September 1842 personally appeared the above named John D. Hoyt and made oath that the above affidavit by him signed is true
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixed seal of Notary Public
Moses C. Russell Notary Public

No. 35390 ✓
Gershawn Downs - dec'd
N.H.
act 7 June '32 -
on Roll - 75. pri 7 mo 9 ds.
adm'd
7 mo. 9 ds pri
 $24.33
To Gershawn Downs only child of Gershawn Downs dec'd from 4 March '31 to 6 April '37 the day of his death
Richd Russell Exr.
Rochester
N.H.

I Ebenezer Horn of Morristownborough in the County of Carroll and State of New Hampshire eighty seven years old Depose & say that I enlisted as a substitute took the place of Calib Hornsey Brother into Captain John Wentworth's Company H Col. Enoch Povey Reg't of the New Hampshire Militia the first of September 1775 & served until the first of January 1776 at which time I enlisted again as a soldier into the same said Company for one year & served in said Company until sometime in the month of August following at which time I was discharged on the account of losing one Eye as Luke Gearge is called in the State of New York. I then again in December 1776 enlisted as a soldier into Captain Samuel Wallingford's Company for three months & marched to the State of New York. I then served out the term of my enlistment & was discharged. I returned home to Somersworth in said State. I further state that I was well acquainted with Gusham Downes of Rochester who was a soldier in the said Captain Matthew Wentworth's Company at the time I entered the said Company in September 1775 that the said Gusham Downes served in said Company with me & to the best of my recollection I believe the said Gusham Downes was a soldier in the said Company at the time that I was discharged at said Lake End Aug 1776 the said Gusham Downes from the best of my recollection did reside in said Rochester. Attest Ebenezer Horn M Horn. R Horn This Horn Master
State of New Hampshire
County of Carroll Be it known that on this fifth day of Aug 1842 personally appeared the above named Ebenezer Horn a credible known witness & made oath that the above affidavit by him signed is true. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Notary Public. Moses C. Russell Notary Public

State of New Hampshire
Stratford ss I Winthrop A. Marston Register of the Court of Probate within and for said County - certify that Moses C Russell is Notary Public within and for said State, duly commissioned and qualified to administer oaths &c - that his Commission bears date May 15th. A. D. 1842 and will expire on the 15th day of May A. D. 1847 - and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his signature is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court of Probate, this twelfth day of September A. D. 1842
W. A. Marston, Register of said Court of Probate